Lion's Ear (Leonotis leonurus)

Two month old seedling

That is one great plant! I grew it one year and this year it was gone.....I miss it. In California it grows like weeds.

Hey weeds, I have some extra seedlings if you like some.

Oh yes, yes, yes! Thank you so much badseed. Tell me what you want, I might have something you just have to have or I will pay postage. You name it!

I noticed that the leaves of most of the other "Lion's Ears" appear to be lance shaped.
I am growing this plant and it has the same shaped leaves as yours.
Are there different varieties?

Hi Windy!! Long time no chat! Yes, there is at least one more variety I know of, but do you think I can remember the name?? LOL Let me look. I would not be shocked if there were others.
Michele

I just went and did some researching and now I am questioning this plant. All the pictures I can find of L. leonurus do have long strip like leaves, yet all the pics of Leonotis nepetifolia have the more mint like leaves like my plants. I received these seeds in a trade some years ago and have grown, saved and traded them since. I may have to take this to the professionals. I'd love to have the white flowered variety. Thanks for bringing up this question Windy!

Apparently my seeds were mislabeled. I requested my entry be moved to L.n. with my other pic. Geeze.

Well, there are approximately 30-40 species of Leonotis. 'chele, I suspect yours is L. nepetifolia (L. nepetaefolia), which has a more rounded leaf. We have a scant three entries in the PDB so far: http://plantsdatabase.com/b/none/Leonotis/, as most of them are not widely cultivated, at least not for gardening...


From my sources, it appears that all species are endemic to S. Africa, and as such, are considred half-hardy to tender perennials/tropicals, but most reseed prolifically, so it's easy to grow them in more temperate climates.

Thank you! I had a comment on there too.

I moved the image and the comment :o)

Sanks!

I might be wrong but isn't motherwort Leonurus
cardiaca? I'm not sure if they're synonyms. I knew I had a picture in there and I couldn't figure out where it went :) I found it under a search for Motherwort. http://plantsdatabase.com/b/none/Leonurus/

Sue, you're right. I must have not had my daily quotient of caffeine this morning when I started out on the searc for Leonotis info. One site had "Motherwort" erreoneously listed as Leonotis leonurus, and when I mentally "corrected" their nomenclature, I substituted Leonotis for Leonurus. I'll take care of the incorrect entry ASAP - thanks!

Ok, I bought the seeds called Leonotis nepetaefolia
from JL Hudson seedsman online. Just glad to hear that they are going to be the pretty orange flower that I had wanted.
I think they were called Lion's Tail as a common name and when I ordered them, I wondered if they were the same as Lion's Ears. Both seem to be very similar except for the leaves.
I planted mine in a container and they are about two feet tall now. I just hope they flower before too long.
I grew the other type one year and it was nearly frost time before they put out a couple of flowers and then were killed by the frost.

Hi Back At you, Badseed!

Badseed, after seeing your picture I went out and looked at mine. The plant and leaves look like yours. I have never grown them before. Bought my seed from Seeds of Change, listed as Lion's Tail, Leonotis leonorus. Hope i get some blooms as i wanted to used them dried in arrangements. Donna

Mine vary in size right now from one foot to two feet. For me, they normally bloom around August and give me plenty of time to save seeds. I forgot last year though and started seeds from the year before. geeze.

Hey badseed, mine are about 4 ft high! Hoping for blooms any day.

Oh sure! I sent you the good ones! LOL Seriously, you have a friendlier climate and I think you were the first to get them. :) I am glad you are enjoying them.

Never heard this climate called friendly! I battle it everyday but I am not a Lion's ear.

LOL Connie! Wanna trade?? I can offer you a nice zone 6 with snow, temperamental weather that can change every ten minutes and I may even be tempted to leave you the kids. :) I spent lots of summers in Pompano, Boca, Stewart, Royal Palm, West Palm, Loxahatchee and one summer on Key Largo at Ocean Reef. I much prefer your weather. I don't care much for no seeums and blue crabs though! LOL I'm not sure where you are, but it has to be nicer than here!

I am in the panhandle, Panama City, Red Neck Riviera, LA, Lower Alabama. Acutally I love it here. This is where I got deposited after my divorce and just stayed.

My luck, I'd get divorced and get deposited in Alaska! LOL

Hey, who knows, you might love it there.

Oh yeah, half a year in darkness. I don't think so! However I did have a friend that lived there not too long ago, in Juno I think. She had beautiful gardens. Then she got moved to California and now she is in TN. Talk about culture and zone shock! LOL